Effects of Curcuma longa L. aqueous extract on embryo development of zebrafish (Danio rerio) by Su Yun Kim.

Turmeric, Curcuma longa L., is the rhizomatous plant of Zingiberaceae family which is distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is widely cultivated in Asian countries like India, China and the Philippines. Curcumin, one of the components in the turmeric extract, has been studied as a preventive agent against cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Its’ claimed effectiveness includes removal of accumulated fats in the body and liver and lowering of the level of bad cholesterol. Despite of the fact that above studies have demonstrated a spectrum of pharmacological properties of turmeric, not many studies have been conducted to find its hazardous effects, especially on embryo development. This study examined effects of the aqueous extract of Curcuma longa L. on embryo development of zebrafish by measuring the dimensions of the eyes, gut, yolk, head, and the tail at 24, 48, and 72 hours post fertilizations and the heart rate at 48 and 72 hours post fertilization, after exposure to 10%, 5%, and 2.5% aqueous extract of turmeric. The results showed that the turmeric aqueous extract may be harmful on the embryo development. The head, eyes, yolk and gut were significantly affected by the higher concentration of extract at 24 hours postfertilization. The eyes, yolk and tail showed significant changes until 48 and 72 hours post-fertilization suggesting that the toxic effects last until later period of development. The heart rates were significantly higher in embryos exposed to the turmeric aqueous extract concentrations at both 48 hours and 72 hours post-fertilization compared to the control. This study may suggest that Curcuma longa can influence zebrafish embryonic development including heart function